Method for producing images in the edge of a volume of paper sheets

ABSTRACT

The present invention concerns a method for producing an image in the edge of a volume of paper sheets. The invention can be used for numerous stationary products, note pads, exercise books, and the like. In the present invention, the images are printed not on the edges but on the paper surface. The method comprises a series of steps: printing-realigning-guillotining. The invention also concerns the insertion of a segmented image, systematically in edges and added in the make-up of a volume, for use in a complex technological process.

This application is a Section 371 national phase of PCT/FR01/00141.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a process for making images on the sideof a volume of paper sheets.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a process for the fabrication of a block of papersheets carrying images on the side. The process comprises the steps of:

-   -   (a) printing portions of the image on at least one major surface        of the paper sheets in the block;    -   (b) skewing the block of paper sheets to offset the printed        portions of the image with respect to one another; and    -   (c) trimming the skewed block of paper sheets in a plane        perpendicular to the paper sheets, said plane passing through        the images. As a result, the image emerges in the plane of        cutting, reconstituted from successive strips, and further        evidenced by the skewing of the block of paper, before assembly        or by torsion of block after assemblage or binding.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows compression of an optical image which may be done prior toprinting;

FIG. 2 shows the three basic steps of the method of the invention;

FIG. 3 shows the skewing of a block of paper resulting on the display ofan image.

FIG. 4 shows various alternative shapes which can be used for skewing ablock of paper prior to trimming.

FIG. 5 shows skewing of a block of paper sheets against a shaped formprior to trimming.

FIG. 6 shows the formation of a block of paper in which the printededges are left exposed after trimming.

FIG. 7 shows blocks of paper with different shapes formed along theprinted edge.

FIG. 8 shows alternative cutting shapes when viewed from the top of ablock of paper.

FIG. 9 shows exemplary cut shapes of the block of paper when viewed fromthe top.

FIG. 10 shows the use of multiple trimming steps.

FIG. 11 shows the use of a box to allow a block of paper to reconfigureitself by sliding within the box to display alternative images.

FIG. 12 shows an assemblage of several blocks of paper sheets.

FIG. 13 shows the offset of an image relative to a cutting referenceline.

FIG. 14 shows the formation of two images using a single block with theimages initially printed in the middle.

FIG. 15 shows multiple groups of images as in FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 shows the edge of a cut block of paper sheets.

FIG. 17 shows the division of an image into sections relative to thecutting line.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The characteristic lies in the capacity of recombining images in thesection of a block of paper and combinative potential (texts or images)in anamorphisms, deformations and forms.

The invention can be applied to a series of paper products: note books,note pads, books etc. . . . or to facilitate innovation of new objectsand games. The contribution can also be decorative, advertising,promotional or indicative. In the past, there were impressions of textsor images on the side of books or the section of blocks of paper. In thepresent invention, the images are printed not on the side but on thesurface of paper so as to keep coherence of the image and sufficientquantity of the image elements. The process comprises a series of steps:

-   -   1) Impression of the volume of paper recto sheets or verso        (black and white, monochromy or quadrichromy), with the selected        side (P1.1 fig.a).    -   2) Skewing the volume of paper to an angle different than 90′,        with the help of a device so that the two ends of the image are        found on a common perpendicular line to the plane of the paper        (P1.1 FIG. 2 b).    -   3) Trimming the block of paper through the printed image (P1.1        FIG. 2 c).        One result, the recombining of the images in the height of the        volume of paper sheets which appear in the section, at least, in        a theoretical way, the image will not be really and clearly        visible until a shift of the sheets the ones compared to the        others, or by the distorsion of the volume of the paper sheets        (P1.1 fig.a). In the case of the verso impression, one or the        other image appears according to the direction of the distorsion        in an alternative way (P1.1 FIG. 3 b).

In the present invention, it is significant sometimes to carry out thecompression of the images to be printed (P1.1 FIG. 1) in order to notblock the finality of the object: books, magazines, diaries, note books,note pads, play cards, etc. . . . In the end, the image refinds itsoriginal dimension on the side of the paper block.

The images can undergo various deformations for different graphicpurposes. The combination image-texts, initials or symbols can becarried out in a promotional goal, advertising, decorative, a pun orimages such as for example, the recto impression of a winter landscapeand on the verso the same landscape in summer. The introduction of athird image by impression on the section is possible. The process ofalignment before the trimming can be done in various geometrical orfigurative forms (P1.2 FIG. 4). The shift of the sheets can be carriedout without form by other procedures and one can consider distorsions inthe mass of paper or a repositioning of the sheets, one compared toanother (example by rotation.) The purpose of the device in specialforms is a specific deformation of the image and the will to mix it witha relief which lets the image be seen in a certain manner. Aftertrimming, for a possible binding, it is necessary to readjust the sheetsin right angle (P1.2 FIG. 7). In certain cases, a retrimming isnecessary to recreate the parallelism of the volume of paper sheets(P1.1 FIG. 2 c). In another case, one can connect without retrimming,while readjusting to 90′ (P1.2 FIG. 6). This type of binding leavesvisible the recto image, without torsion (P1.2 FIG. 6). Severalcombinations can leave visible entirely or partially the images in homeposition. One can forsee, in cases of productivity, the design of apress which modifies the position of the impression, breaks into leaf bysheet to thus carry out the skewing phase before trimming.

Trimming according to the design or for particular concepts, can becarried out with a straight, curved or angular blade, etc. . . . (P1.2FIG. 8) or with all other form of cutting (P1.3 FIG. 9). The trimmingcan also be composed of several interventions or the combinedinterventions (P1.3 FIG. 10). The impression of the paper sheets, inthis case, can comprise one or more images adapted to the interventionsof cutting. In certain cases, the impressions and the trimming can becarried out on one, two or several sides and the operationsimpression-trimming followed by a second impression and of a retrimmingon different places.

The objects can also be composed of several thicknesses of paper (P1.3FIG. 12). The paper sheets can be free, glued or connected in allmanners (before or after the trimming). The printed and trimmed blocksof paper can also be locked up in transparent boxes of different shapes,letting the images appear. The rigid or flexible boxes can leave bytheir design, paper to reposition itself in several ways (P1.3 FIG. 11).The imprint can be recto simple or to have the same image printed on theback, mirroring with the same co-ordinates. For aesthetic or practicalreasons, the thickness of the blocks can be different and paper can havedifferent weights. The sheets can be of different nature (ex: opaqueplastic or transparency). Two objects can be carried out in the sameblock of paper and to profit from the same mirroring images (P1.4 FIG.14). In the manufacturing process, one can obtain several objects fromthe same block of paper. Only one aligning device with a different than90° angle, transmits the shift to the assembly. Then, the objects areseparated by normal trimming at 90° (P1.4 FIG. 16). The printing ofimages on the trimming side, can be a remake on an already printed andstitched volume of paper, to improve its quality. For the extension ofthis invention on technological processes where the printing, stitchingand the trimming are done at the same time, one simulates the process ofskewing in the preparation with the printing. An image compressed ornot, can be introduced into the formatting of a volume, be skewedsystematically compared to the reference marks of cutting (P1.3 FIG. 13)and thus to envisage and break up the process of the invention for anequivalent result without movement of retiming before trimming(significant for the manufacture of books, magazine, catalogues etc . .. ). The skewing will be made compared to the margin of cutting(principle of the lost bottom) in connection with the folio and thenumber of pages. One can have the same result to leave the imageuncompressed, divided systematically in sections added in the formattingas in the preceding case (P1.4 FIG. 17).

In the present invention, one can envisage software which would allowthe preparation of the image and the automatic introduction into afolio. The invention can be applied to catalogues of sale, telephonedirectories, dictionaries, diaries etc . . . , for information purposes,on the contents and its position in volume. The information can begraphic, image or text etc. . . . In the case of text, the interventioncan be complementary to the current method which is that of printing atext-advertiser on each page of a chapter (P1.4 FIG. 16). With the riskof worse quality, one can simulate the assembly process by printing or ashifted cutting, sheet by sheet. A solvent can be applied to improve thevisibility of the image on the trimmed side. If, on the other hand, theimage must be hidden, the side of the trimmed block of paper can begilded.

1. A process for the fabrication, from a single block of paper made of avolume of stacked paper sheets, of a plurality of paper products each inthe form of a sub-block with an image produced on a side of thesub-block, said method comprising the steps of: (a) printing a pluralityof images on at least one major surface of the paper sheets in theblock; (b) skewing the block of paper sheets in a direction to offsetthe printed images with respect to one another; and (c) trimming theskewed block of paper sheets in a plurality of planes perpendicular tothe major surfaces of the paper sheets, at least one of said planepassing through at least one image such that the plane passes through aleading edge of the image at the top of the paper block, and through anopposed trailing edge of the image at the bottom of the paper block,thereby forming a plurality of paper products in the form of sub-blockscut from the block.
 2. The process of claim 1, wherein the image iscompressed in one dimension prior to printing.
 3. The process of claim1, further comprising the step of retrimming those paper productsub-blocks cut from an edge of the skewed block, thereby recreatingsub-blocks with parallel surfaces.
 4. The process of claim 1, whereinthe trimming is performed in several planes simultaneously.
 5. Theprocess of claim 1, wherein the trimming is performed in severaldifferent steps one after another.
 6. The process of claim 1, wherein atleast half of the trimmings do not intersect with images.
 7. The processof claim 1, further comprising the step of applying a coating of paintor gilding to the trimmed sub-block of paper sheets in order to hide theimages which will only be visible by skewing the block of paper sheets.8. The process of claim 1, further comprising the step of rotating thepaper sheets in the block, one compared to another, before trimming togenerate deformations or anamorphisms in the image.
 9. The process ofclaim 1, further comprising the step of rotating the paper sheets in asub-block, one compared to another, after trimming to generatedeformations or anamorphisms in the image.
 10. The process of claim 1,wherein the trimming is performed with a blade or a shaped knife. 11.The process of claim 1, further comprising the step of realigning of aprinted sub-block of paper sheets after trimming against an arbitraryform.
 12. The process of claim 1, wherein the images are printed on bothtop and bottom major surfaces of the sheets of paper in the block,whereby two images are formed along a trimming plane passing through theimages.
 13. The process of claim 12, wherein the image compressed in onedimension prior to printing.
 14. The process of claim 12, furthercomprising the step of retrimming those paper product sub-blocks cutfrom an edge of the skewed block, thereby recreating sub-blocks withparallel surfaces.
 15. The process of claim 12, wherein the trimming isperformed in several planes simultaneously.
 16. The process of claim 12,wherein the trimming is performed in several different steps one afteranother.
 17. The process of claim 12, wherein at least half of thetrimmings do not intersect with images.
 18. The process of claim 12,further comprising the step of applying a coating of paint or gilding tothe trimmed sub-block of paper sheets in order to hide the images whichwill only be visible by skewing the block of paper sheets.
 19. Theprocess of claim 12, further comprising the step of rotating the papersheets in the block, one compared to another, before trimming to genrate deformations or anamorphisms in the image.
 20. The process of claim12, further comprising the step of rotating the paper sheets in asub-block, one compared to another, after trimming to gen ratedeformations or anamorphisms in the image.
 21. The process of claim 12,wherein the trimming is performed with a blade or a shaped knife. 22.The process of claim 12, further comprising the step of realigning of aprinted sub-block of paper sheets after trimming against an arbitraryform.